Apparatus for training range-finder operators.



W. MAKAROFF.

APPARATUS FOR TRAINING RANGE FINDER OPERATORS.

APPLICATION men NOV. 22, um.

1,297,967. Patented Mar. 18,1919.

WIT/V5885 g .z v INVENTOR 44 ilda .ZfQ/kQPo/f WADIM MAKAROFF, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR TRAINING RANGE-FINDER OPERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed November 22, 1917. Serial No. 203,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VADIM MAKAROFF, a Russian subject, and'a resident of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Training Range- Finder Operators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for training range-finder operators without setting the range-finder to any definite range. With such an apparatus the problem placed before the pupil by the instructor only consists in that the pupil must-by means of the usual adjustment of the movable lens of the range-finder-bring into register the images of two standards arranged on a bar approximately parallel to the range finder and then compare the range obtained with the indication of a dial on the apparatus. In making use of this apparatus one of the standards occupies a stationary position, while the other standard is moved by the instructor to various distances from the first one, such movement being indicated by the movement ofa hand around a dial on the apparatus, the graduations of which dialshow directly range values. In this way, by looking at the hand on the dial it is possible for the instructor to verify the result communicated to him by the pupil.

A constructionaccording to this invention is illustrated, in the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically, a general plan view of the apparatus and the range-finder; v

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the right hand end of theapparatus; and 40 Fig. 3 is an elevation of the left hand end of the apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn on a largerscale than Fig. '1.

Theapparatus is arranged in the following manner. At a suitable distance from the range-finder 1, preferably approximately parallel to its axis, a bar 2 is disposed with two standards 3 and 4; The left hand standard 3 must be opposite the, left hand stationary lens of the range-finder and the right hand standard 4 opposite the movable right hand prism or reflector.

As shown in Fig. 3, the standard 3 is fastened on a slide 5 which permits its movement along the bar 2 against the scale 6. The right hand standard 4 is fastened on a slide 7 (Figs. 1 and 3), which can move in a guiding slot 8 on the disk 8 mounted on an axl 9 and rigidly connected with a toothed wheel 10 which meshes with a pinion 11 mounted on an axle 12.

Both axles 9 and 12 are mounted in an open casing 13 rigidly connected with the bar 2. On the axle 12, rotated by means of a handle 12 a hand 14 is loosely set. This hand can be made fast to this axle by tightening a nut 15. The hand moves around a stationary dial 16, graduated, for instance, in cables lengths, as described below.

The length of the bar 2 is less than that of the base of the range-finder, so that, when this bar is placed at a distance from the range-finder, for instance, about 300 feet and approximately parallel to the range-finder 1, the images of the standards 3 and 4 can be combined in the field of vision of the eyepiece of the range-finder; and in adjusting the range-finder for its minimum range N M, the guide 8 of the standard 4 is set along the ray L M, while in adjusting for the maximum range N M it is turned to an ngle with the ray L M.

The instructor first sets the apparatus in the following manner: Supposing that the minimum graduation of the apparatus corresponds to 15 cables lengths. The rangefinder is set to this minimum distance. Two images of the standards 3 and 4 will appear in the field of vision of the eye-piece, which images do not coincide. These images are brought into coincidence by adjusting standard 3. Supposing the standard 4 is out of the center of the disk 8 its adjustment on the ray L M is effected with the aid of an auxiliary standard 17, dotted line in Fig. 1, on the fork 18, which may be temporarily fastened on the disk 8 so that it turns to gether with this disk. Thatis to say, the position of the two standards 4 and 17,'in which the images of these standards appear in alinement is found. The slide 5 of the standard 3 is then moved along the bar 2 until the images of all the-standards coincide. When this has been done, the fork 18 is withdrawn, the hand 14, which is freed, is I moved to the first graduation of the dial,

corresponding to 15 cables lengths, and the (solid lines in Fig. 1) for which purpose the hand 14: must be brought opposite the graduation which is marked on the dial.

The range-finder is set for the maXimum adjustment (a range of 7 5 cables lengths) and the standard at is moved in the guide 8 until a coincidence of the images of the standards 3 and 4tis attained in the eyepiece. It is obvious that this will only take place when the standard t moves into the ray L M corresponding to the distance 6 b 0 1 I 1 :t-QO +arc tan -[arc tau e-arc cos where llJ is the angle of division for the given dis tance D;

Z) is the length of the range-finder base;

I) max is the maximum range;

D min is the minimum range.

It is obvious that owing to the slide of the standard 4: rotating around the center of the disk 8 one and the same graduation of the scale of the dial is suitable for all practically applied distances of the bar 2 from the range-finder 1. When on fastening both standards 3 and 4 in definite positions in the manner described above, the apparatus is ready for use, the instructor has only to move the hand it by turning the handle 12 to a graduation of the dial directly indicating the range which corresponds to the distance between the standards 3 and l. Then the range-finder is disarranged and the pupil seeks the coincidence of the images of the standards 3 and 4 by adjusting the movable lens and communicates the data obtained to the instructor who verifies the correctness of the result by reference to the indications of the hand.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for training rangefinder operators, the combination of a sup port arranged at a suitable distance from a range-finder and approximately parallel thereto, a standard adjustable on said support, a rotating disk spaced from said standard and provided with a slot, a second standard adjustable in the slot of the disk and movable therewith, and means for rotating said disk having a register in connection therewith.

2. In an apparatus for training range finder operators, the combination of a support arranged at a suitable distance from a range-finder and approximately parallel thereto, a standard adjustable on said support, a rotating disk spaced from said standard and provided with a slot, a second standard adjustable in the slot of the disk and movable therewith, means for rotating said disk, and registering means in connection with said rotating means, having a dial graduated in units of length.

unease? lib/ :75 cables lengths. Then the slide of the standard 4: is made fast. The graduations on the scale 6 and'the edge of the guiding slot 8 permit of placing the slides on the average indication of several observations when adjusting the apparatus to the range-finder.

The intermediate points of the scale 1n graduating the latter when building the ap paratus may be obtained in various ways, as for instance by the formula,

D max (D D min) 13(1) max-D min) t 3. In an apparatus for training rangefinder operators, the combination of a support arranged at a suitable distance from a range-finder and approximately parallel thereto, a standard adjustable on said sup: port, a rotating disk spaced from said standard and provided with a slot, a second stand ard adjustable in the slot of the disk and movable therewith, a dial graduatel in measures of length, and a hand movable on the dial and connected to said disk to rotate therewith.

a. In an apparatus for training range finder operators, the combination of a support arranged at suitable distance from a range-finder and approximately parallel thereto, a standard adjustable on said support, a. rotating disk spaced from said standard and provided with a slot, a second standard adjustable in the slot of the disk and movable therewith, a graduated dial, a hand movable on the dial, and a detachableconnectio'n between the hand and the disk.

5. in an apparatus for trainingtrangefinder operators, the combination of a support arranged at a suitable distance'from a range-finder and approximately parallel thereto, a standard adjustable 'onsaid support, a rotating disk provided with adiametrical. slot, a second standard adjustable in the slot and movable with the disk in its rotation, means for rotating said disk, means to register the rotation thereof, and a supplemental standard detachably connected'to the disk, for the'purpose described.

6. Apparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to be placed in front of the range finder in a position to be viewed by the operator or the range finder, means for varying the distance between said objects and indicating mechanism associated with said'obje'cts and operable upon a variation in thedistance between said objects to givea direct reading in terms of range.

7. Apparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to be placed in front of the range finder in a position to be viewed by the operator of the range finder and means for preliminarily adjusting the distance between said objects to minimum and maximum positions correspending to similar positions of the range der, means for varying the distances between said objects between their minimum and maximum limits and indicating mechanism associated with said last-named means givin direct readings in terms of range.

8. pparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to be placed in front of the finder in a posi tion to be viewed by the operator, means for preliminarily adjusting the distance be tween said objects to positions corresponding to maximum and minimum positions of the range finder, means for varying the distances between said objects between their maximum and minimum positions, indicating mechanism associated with said distancevarying means and means for locking said indicating mechanism to said distance-varying means and for releasing it therefrom.

9. Apparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to be placed in front of the finder in a position to be viewed by the operator, at ro- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the tata'ble support for one of said objects and indicating mechanism associated with said rotatable support.

10. Apparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to 'be placed in front of the finder in a position to be viewed by the operator, an angularly movable member, one of said objects having a sliding movement on said rotatable member, indicating mechanism associated with said member and means for locking said indicating mechanism to said member and for releasing it therefrom.

11. Apparatus for use with range finders, comprising a pair of spaced objects adapted to be placed in front of the range finder in a position to be viewed by the operator of the range finder, an angularly movable member and means for adjusting one of said objects upon said member in an eccentric position, indicating mechanism associated with said member and means for locking said indicating mechanism to said member and for releasing it therefrom.

WADIM MAKAROFF.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

